The colonial government arrested many prominent Sinhalese politicians and leaders on charges of treason and their houses were searched.

The preponderance of Tamils over their natural share of the population was used by populist Sinhalese politicians to come to political power by promising to elevate the Sinhalese people.

The same mob after listening to a speech by populist Sinhalese politicians urging them to boycott Tamil business went on a looting spree in the city.

Prominent Sinhalese politicians such as Dudley Senanayake and Ranasinghe Premadasa have associated with the temple upkeep by building, renovation and cleaning projects.

The SLFP campaign of 1956 was the first in Ceylon's history where communal feelings against the minority Tamil community were deliberately stirred up by Sinhalese politicians for electoral gain.

In Colombo, heavily armed troops and armored cars stood guard as three Sinhalese politicians formally declared their candidacy for president of this Indian Ocean island reeling from war and ethnic unrest.

The demand for a sovereign Tamil state was considered as a threat of Balkanization to India, and also raised concerns among the Sinhalese politicians in Sri Lanka.

After gaining independence from Britain in 1948, Sinhalese politicians made the apparent over representation a political issue.

Short-sighted Sinhalese politicians decided, after independence in 1948, to make Sinhalese the only official language.

The proposal caused an uproar among Sinhalese politicians, Tamils say.